The American desire to build one’s own home is strong and growing across the U.S. housing market. More homes are being built, and they’re bigger than ever. But, the trends are much more significant than just size. Our closer look at the just-released U.S. Census Bureau’s annual housing survey report reveals important insights that you should know about before building your own home.

You're in the market for a new home, and you've been searching through umpteen house plans to find your dream home. But don't forget about the builder. You should shop just as carefully for your contractor. Here are some things to watch out for.

You’ve searched through and purchased pre-designed house plans to build your dream home. But before you can build, you need to have the plans approved by your local building authorities and obtain a building permit. Here’s how.

You’ve searched through pre-designed house plans to find your dream home, and now it’s built and ready for you to move in. Here’s some useful advice on how to be sure that you’re happy with the condition of the new house and your move will go as smoothly as possible.

You’re searching through pre-designed house plans to find your dream home. But the dotted lines, symbols, and shapes you are seeing confuse you. How do they translate into the living space you are looking for? Here are tips to help you understand what you’re looking at.

You’ve successfully searched through pre-designed house plans to find your dream home. Now it’s time to build. Will you hire a general contractor to build your house or manage the job yourself? Here are tips to help you hire and work with contractors no matter which way you go.

You’re searching through pre-designed house plans to find your dream home, but you find you are having trouble conjuring a mental picture of the inside of the home from floor plans. Here are some tips on how to better visualize the finished product as you peruse home plans.

when you build a new home, the first thing you and your guests will see is the driveway, which is part of the “face” of your new houseplan. From cobblestones, brick and concrete to asphalt and the latest treatments such as environmentally friendly materials and rough-cut looks, today's driveways are safe, practical and durable, built to last for many years

How cool would be to build a home on the edge of a cliff with breathtaking panoramic views of distant mountains majesty or shores from sea to shining sea. Here are some expert thoughts about what it would take.

What happens when even the “best” apartment gets too cramped for you and your family? Is it time for that dream house with a lovely porch and garden? But wait … before you buy or build, consider these points as you embark on this challenging and exciting journey.